PPP Confident In Fifth Straight Victory At General Elections

As Guyana gears up for general elections in 2011, the ruling party is confident that it is heading for a 5th straight victory and it may not matter who will be leading the party into the polls. Party General Secretary Donald Ramotar, Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee have all expressed their willingness to serve as the party’s presidential candidate.

General Secretary Donald Ramotar does not see it as a race for the position but a process that will see the party putting forward a presidential candidate who will carry its programmes and policies forward. He believes that though the political style of the hopefuls may be different, they have all been groomed to lead.

Just last week the party celebrated its 18th year in power and Ramotar believes there is much to celebrate and much more that the party can take to the campaign trail when the elections come around. But how would a Ramotar led government be different should get the nod to lead and win the next elections? It’s a matter of style.

Though the PPP lost support at the last elections, it was still able to widen the margin of victory over the other parties. Recent polls have indicated that the party still commands a large support base but the next elections will mark the first time in the party’s over half century history that it will be going to the polls without a Jagan in its leadership.

President Bharrat Jagdeo is constitutionally barred from seeking a 3rd term. The PPP has indicated that it will use its tried and tested formula to choose a presidential candidate. That formula includes the executive of the party playing the major role in the decision.